But on our quest to make loved foods healthier, something’s got to give. Traditional mac is loaded with fat and salt, but it is possible to prepare a healthier, lighter version. Let me show you an easy way! If you’d like to listen to this post instead of reading, click play below. All that cheese, butter and whole milk in the creamy sauce means the fat and salt levels really start to stack up, not to mention that there’s usually not a vegetable in sight! Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from us every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Hurry the Food Up. But if you want to eat mac and cheese more often without being unhealthy, this healthy mac and cheese recipe is just what you need! We up the protein, lower the fat and add some veggies in, to make a dish that is as delicious as a traditional recipe, but far healthier! By adding extra protein to keep you feeling full, this mac and cheese is perfect for weight loss.
Ingredients
Whole wheat PastaI use wholewheat pasta because it is healthier than normal, refined pasta. This is because whole grain foods contain more nutrients and fibre than refined grains, which have a lot of their nutrients stripped from them in the refining process. Wholegrain pasta also tends to be lower in calories. Mature CheddarI choose mature cheddar, or sharp cheddar, because it has a sharper, richer flavor than mild cheddar. This is good for adding depth and flavor to the cheesy sauce. You could also try a mixture of mild cheddar and vegetarian parmesan cheese as an alternative. MilkI use dairy, skim milk but you are welcome to use any other milk or milk alternative you have to hand. Cottage CheeseBy adding cottage cheese to this stove-top mac, the amount of cheddar required is reduced. Cottage cheese is considerably lower in fat than cheddar and is very high in protein, so it helps to make this a healthy macaroni! Broccoli and PeasI wanted this to be a healthy mac and cheese with veggies, so you’re going to add some broccoli and peas to the mix. Chop the broc up as finely or as chunky as you want, depending on the kind of texture you are after. SeasoningGarlic powder, onion powder and mustard add some more flavor to the sauce. There is also the option to chuck in some Worcestershire sauce and/or mango chutney, to jazz it up even more.
How many calories are in this revolutionary version?
This healthy mac and cheese contains 524 calories per serving, and it contains 28g protein per serving. Here’s a quick overview of 1 serving:
At 509 kcal it is an appropriate dish for your weight loss meal plan! And check out that awesome 25g protein and slender 17g fat. The perfect balance.
What are the health benefits of this version?
Whole wheat pasta is high in potassium, magnesium and phosphorus – containing all these in higher amounts than refined pasta. Potassium is good for skin health, magnesium supports muscle and nerve function and phosphorus is vital to the health of your bones and teeth among other things. Cottage cheese is a great source of low fat vegetarian protein, as well as containing plenty of calcium and gut friendly bacteria (no wonder we’re such big fans of cottage cheese recipes!). If you’re a vegetarian who needs more protein, check out this veggie protein meal plan. If you just love awesome meals in one place, there’s an app for that! Broccoli is high in vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and potassium as well as many important antioxidants. Peas also contain fairly high amounts of vitamins A, C, and K and the nutrients folate and manganese. Peas and broccoli are also two of the vegetables with the highest protein content!
Cooking tips and tricks
Let me answer your mac and cheese related questions! From the pasta to the sauce, let me talk you through how to make this healthy homemade mac and cheese.
Mac and cheese variations and alternatives
To make this healthy pasta recipe gluten free, simply switch out the whole wheat noodles for gluten-free pasta! Simple. To make this vegan is a bit more challenging. You can try the recipe with oat milk and your favorite vegan cheese, or nutritional yeast, however I can’t guarantee the texture will be the same or that it will be as high protein as our recipe. But if you are looking for a cheesy vegan treat, why not try our cheezy broccoli casserole instead? You can also play around with other elements of this healthy mac and cheese with veggies. You could pick your own cheese instead of cheddar – maybe Lancashire or red Leicester? You could also add bread crumbs to the top and bake it!
More vegetarian pasta recipes
If you liked this pasta dish, why not try our creamy broccoli pasta or tomato spinach pasta. Or if you want something slightly different, try this Mediterranean pasta salad. I also have a cracking healthy pasta arrabiata recipe, that I think you will love! I hope you enjoyed this healthy mac and cheese recipe – is it not just the ultimate comfort food? I’m sure the whole family will love it, picky eaters included! Let me know in the comments below what other healthy recipes for classic dishes you’d like to see (and while you’re here why not check out cheap veggie meals for students for some budget-friendly comfort food).